Jefferson Davis said, "The many who measure the value of an officer's service by the conspicuous part he played upon the fields of battle, may not properly estimate the worth of Cooper's services in the war between the States."

Although General Cooper's contributions to history
are everlasting, he is one of the least recognized and written about
generals that served the South. This web page is dedicated to Adjutant
and Inspector General Samuel Cooper who served both the United States
of America and The Confederate States of America.

E. Rowland Dawson's
research papers - Copies of his papers have been given to the
General's Web Site by S. Cooper Dawson, Jr., great-grandson of General
Samuel Cooper. Mr. Dawson, Cooper as he prefers to be addressed, is
the grandson of Virginia Cooper Dawson one of two daughters of General
Cooper.

Short Sketch of Samuel Cooper's
Life - Since 1877 it has also been said that General Cooper's
great-grandfather, name unknown, had three sons; John, the grandfather
of General Cooper, Samuel and William. Samuel was placed as the Reverend
Samuel Cooper of Boston. Some doubt has been placed........

Research Notes -
"General and Mrs. Cooper came to see us. She is Mrs. Smith Lee's sister,
Senator Mason's sister."

Summary of May 30, 1997,
Research - "Born on June 12, 1798, at New Hackensack, Dutchess County,
New York, on his father's birthday. His father was Major Samuel Cooper
of the Revolutionary Army where he served in Knox Artillery of Washington's
Army."

More Notes - Sketch
of the Late General S. Cooper by General Fitz. Lee as it appeared in
the Southern Historical Society Papers, Volume III, January to June,
1877.

The General's
Family - "For years it has been written that General Samuel
Cooper was a direct descendent of the Reverend Samuel Cooper of Boston.
Much of this belief stemmed from the paper prepared by General Fitzhugh
Lee and published in the Southern Historical Society Papers. E. Rowland
Dawson, in his unpublished papers, has added some interesting discovery
with regards to General Cooper's family including some documented facts
about General Cooper's father's military career."

Letter from President Jefferson
Davis, - "I am gratified to know that you have under-taken to
make a record of the services and virtues of a man than whom none has
higher claims upon the regard of all who loved the Confederacy. No one
presents an example more worth of the emulation of the youth of his
country. My personal acquaintance with General Cooper began at......."

S. Cooper Dawson's Presentation
Washington DC Civil War Round Table on January 10, 1978, - "Most
sources say Cooper was born in Hackensack, New Jersey, probably because
no one ever heard of New Hackensack, New York. Ezra Warner in General's
in Gray, so stated and when I wrote to give him the facts, Mr. Warner
replied that your father told me so. Was my face red! But, the West
Point register of graduates says New York, and Mr. Warner dug further
in Dutchess County records and later confirmed his birthplace (as New
Hackensack, New York)."